Alejandro Garnacho's incredible overhead kick helped Manchester United defeat Everton 3-0, adding insult to injury as the Toffees remain in the Premier League relegation zone.
The home crowd held thousands of banners calling the Premier League "corrupt" during Everton's first game back at Goodison Park following a 10-point deduction for financial rule violations.
However, Garnacho scored what will go down as one of the all-time great Premier League goals just three minutes into the game.
On the volley, the Argentine leaped to meet Diogo Dalot's hanging cross and fired it into Jordan Pickford's upper left corner.
Did you read this?
Although Marcus Rashford's penalty and Anthony Martial's goal were uncharacteristic of another uneven United performance, Erik ten Hag's team has now won five of their last six league games.
Despite a difficult season, United has risen to sixth place in the standings and is only six points behind leaders Arsenal.
The Everton supporters vented their resentment at the authorities for imposing the harshest sporting punishment in Premier League history, and the visitors had to deal with a heated environment.
.jpeg)
Sean Dyche's team appeared to have avoided relegation after two seasons of fighting for it, thanks to a strong recent run of play.
However, they are only five points outside safety and off the bottom of the table on goal differential.
Everton was left to lament a string of wasted opportunities after Garnacho initially shocked the boisterous home crowd.
Twice, Dominic Calvert-Lewin had fantastic head opportunities but could not capitalize on them.
On his first Premier League start for United, teenager Kobbie Mainoo excelled. After Andre Onana parried Calvert-Lewin's initial effort, the midfielder's goalline clearance only prevented Dwight McNeil's goal.
Then, just as Everton was about to assert their superiority before halftime, Abdoulaye Doucoure missed another fantastic opportunity.
Additionally, when VAR intervened early in the second half to award United a contentious penalty, it did not help ease the sentiment among the home crowd that everyone was against them.
When Ashley Young challenged Martial to a fight in the box, referee John Brooks gave him a diving call.
After seeing a replay, Brooks reversed his decision, even though there seemed to be insufficient contact for VAR to get involved.
Bruno Fernandes awarded Rashford a penalty kick, and the England international seized the opportunity to score the team's first goal since September 3.
Instead of the injured Rasmus Hojlund, Martial was making an uncommon start. With 15 minutes remaining, he expertly finished United's most significant league victory of the year with a through pass from Fernandes.
